Elevator systems having audible car-direction signals



April 18, 1961 G. E. YEAKLEY ELEVATOR SYSTEMS HAVING AUDIBLE CAR-DIRECTION SIGNALS Filed Sept. 14, 1956 3 Sheets-Sheet l DEP INVENTOR Glen E. Yeclkley ZZM ATTORNEY No Up Service Starter WITNESSES April 18, 1961 e. E. YEAKLEY ELEVATOR SYSTEMS HAVING AUDIBLE CAR-DIRECTION SIGNALS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 14. 1956 ELECTROMAGNETIC RELAYS OF PATENT 2740495 (Contacts and Relays Added as Shown Below) $3 28 m3 26 33 mow Je mm? a k E: l 29 $9 :5 |I|I| III i Em 2.2m .2m Em QB 35E 95B 85 Sf a e, 3% 25B 595 m w m m v m NEE izm E5 aw e m m 2:5 .53 II I lluv I I I I I I I 2:; 32m Bxm xm em J2" Exm .58 3am in Q EL; o 25 mim .im :5 .v 22% i=5 Em :01 n20: v ll mn Q6 i 0%. Re 95 $0 $08 momm e $3 Fig.3A.

United States Patent ELEVATOR SYSTEMS HAVING AUDIBLE CAR-DIRECTION SIGNALS Glen E. Yeakley, Westfield, N.J., assignor to Westinghouse Electric Corporation, East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Sept. 14, 1956, Ser. No. 609,846

Claims. (Cl. 340-49) This invention relates to elevator systems having signals and has particular relation to elevator systems employing mechanism for indicating audibly the direction of movement of the elevator cars.

Although the invention may be employed in elevator systems wherein an elevator car attendant supervises the operation of each elevator car, the invention is particularly suitable for elevator systems of the automatic type wherein elevator car attendants are not employed. For this reason, the invention will be discussed with particular relation to an automatic elevator system.

In accordance with the invention, an elevator system is provided with sound generating mechanism capable of producing sound having characteristics indicative of the direction of travel of an elevator car. Thus, the sound generating mechanism may have a tonal output which ascends in pitch for the purpose of indicating upward travel of an elevator car. The sound generating mechanism may produce a tonal output descending in pitch for the purpose of indicating downward travel of an elevator car.

Although a continuous variation in pitch may be employed, in a preferred embodiment of the invention two or more discrete tones are produced in sequence for the purpose of indicating direction of travel of an elevator car. Thus, a tone of low pitch followed rapidly by a tone of high pitch may indicate upward travel of the elevator car, whereas a tone of high pitch followed rapidly by a tone of low pitch may indicate downward travel of an elevator car.

Preferably, the sequence of tones is produced as an elevator car stops at an intermediate floor for the purpose of indicating the direction in which the elevator car is to leave the floor.

The audible signals herein discussed may be employed alone for indicating the direction of travel of an elevator car. Desirably, however, the audible signals are combined with visual signals, such as conventional floor lanterns, for the purpose of providing both audible and visual signals. This is particularly desirable for elevator cars arranged in banks.

The field of vision to which a normal prospective passenger is sensitive is restricted to a field in front of the passenger. However, a normal prospective passenger is sensitive to audible signals which reach him from virtually anydirection. Thus, a prospective passenger who is looking away from a floor lantern may 'be alerted by an audible signal originating adjacent such floor lantern. When so alerted, the prospective passenger can determine the specific elevator car which will serve him by inspection of the floor lantern associated with such car.

it is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide an elevator system having improved audible signals for indicating direction of travel of the elevator car.

It is another object of the invention to provide an elevator system with improved audible and visual signals for indicating the direction of travel of an elevator car.

It is a further object of the invention to provide an elevator system wherein a sequence of tones having different pitches is employed for indicating direction of travel of an elevator car.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an elevator system wherein an audible signal having an ascending pitch indicates upward travel of an elevator car.

It is an additional object of the invention to provide an elevator system wherein an audible signal of descending pitch indicates downward travel of an elevator car.

Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation with parts broken away of an elevator system embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation with parts broken away of an elevator car suitable for the system of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a schematic view in straight line form showing control circuits suitable for the elevator system of Fig. l; and

Fig. 3A is a key representation of electromagnetic relays employed in the circuits of Fig. 3. If Figs. 3 and 3A are placed in horizontal alignment, it will be found that corresponding coils and contacts, shown in the two figures, are in horizontal alignment.

In order to simplify the presentation of the invention, it will be assumed that the invention is applied to an elevator system similar to that shown in Figs. 1 to 8 of the Santini et al. Patent 2,740,495, which issued April 3, 1956. Insofar as possible, the reference characters and conventions employed in this patent will be employed in the following discussion.

FIG. 1

Fig. 1 of the present drawings is identical to Fig. 1 of the aforesaid Santini et al. patent except for the addition to such patent of gong units and gongs. In order to facilitate an understanding of the invention, the fol lowing tabulation of components is presented.

Apparatus in Fig. 1 for Car A also shown in Patent 2,740,495

11-Electric motor.

12Shaft.

13Traction sheave.

1'4Brake drum.

16-Floor selector.

20Counterweight.

21--Ropes.

LMSLoad measuring switch. EInductor slowdown relay. F-Inductor stopping relay.

UEP, DEP, UFP, DFP-Inductor plates. bc, 1c to 6cCar-call push buttons. 1ULUp-fioor lantern for first floor. 1DLDown-iloor lantern for first floor. 37-Door.

Apparatus in Fig. 1 common to all cars also shown in Patent 2,740,495

2UUp-fioor push button for second floor. 2D-Down-fioor push button for second floor.

Apparatus in Fig. 1 not shown in Patent 2,740,495

I. FOR ELEVATOR CAR A 1UG-Up-direction gong unit for first floor. 1DGDown-direction gong unit for first floor.

II. FOR. ELEVATOR CAR B B5Ga--Low-pitch gong for fifth floor. B5GbHigh-pitch gong for fifth floor.

A single up-direction gong unit and a single downdirection gong unit could be mounted on the elevator car A and the appropriate gong unit could be sounded as the elevator car stops at each floor shortly after the door of the car starts to open. However, in a preferred embodiment of the invention, separate gong units are provided at each of the floors served by the elevator car. Thus, an up-direction gong unit is provided at each floor from which the elevator car may leave in the up direction, whereas a down-direction gong unit is provided at each floor from which the elevator car may leave in the down direction.

The aforesaid Santini et al. patent describes an elevator system employing four elevator cars. Gong units similar to those illustrated for the elevator car A may be employed for each of the elevator cars of the system. However, for illustrative purposes, it will be assumed that each floor served by the elevator car B is provided with a low-pitch gong and a high-pitch gong, such as the gongs BSGa and BSGb for the fifth floor. Similar gongs may be employed for each of the elevator cars of the system.

FIG. 2

Fig. 2 is similar to Fig. 2 of the aforesaid Santini et a1. patent. For this reason, no detailed discussion thereof is here required.

FIG. 3

Fig. 3 is intended to show a control system similar to that represented in Figs. 3 to 8, inclusive, of the aforesaid Santini patent with certain additions which are illustrated in detail. Since the present control system is largely a duplicate of that in the aforesaid Santini et al. patent, only so much of the system is shown in detail in Fig. 3 as is necessary to illustrate the additions to the system of the patent.

In order to facilitate a consideration of Fig. 3, the following tabulation of components shown in the figure is set forth.

Apparatus in Fig. 3 for Car A also shown in Patent 2,740,495

'78UHigh-call relay.

78No-call relay.

78P-Low-zone high-call relay.

bUL, lUL to 5ULUp-floor lanterns for basementand first to fifth floors.

lDL to 6DLDown-floor lanterns for first to sixth floors.

L1, L2Buses connected to source of direct current.

Apparatus in Fig. 3 not shown in Patent 2,740,495

I. FOR ELEVATOR CAR A bUG, llUG to 5UGUp-direction gong units for basement and first to fifth floors.

1138 to 6DG-Down-direction gong units for first to sixth floors.

V2Break contacts added to speed relay V of Patent II. FOR ELEVATOR CAR B BbGa, BlGa to B6Ga--Low pitch gongs for basement and first to sixth floors.

BbGb, BlGb to B6GbHigh pitch gongs for basement and first to sixth floors.

The circuits associated with the elevator car A now will be considered. If the manually-operated switch TAS1 of Fig. 3 is open, the circuits controlling the elevator car A are identical with those of the aforesaid Santini et al. patent except for the addition of a separate gong unit for each of the floor lanterns. Thus, the up-direction gong units bUG, lUG to SUG are associated respectively with the floor lanterns bUL and lUL to SUL. Each gong unit is connected to be energized at the same time as its associated floor lantern. To this end, each of the gong units may be connected in series or in parallel with its associated floor lantern. The parallel connection is illustrated in Fig. 3. In a similar manner, the downdirection gong units 1136 to 6136 are associated respectively with the floor lanterns lDL to 6DL.

When energized each of the up-direction gong units is designed to produce a succession of tones of ascending pitch. For example, each of these units when energized may produce a tone of low pitch followed at a suitable interval, such as one-fourth of a second, by a tone of higher pitch. Units of this type for producing a succession of tones are well known and are extensively employed, for example, as door chimes in residences.

In an analogous manner, each of the down-direction gong units is intended to produce successive tones of descending pitch. Thus, each of the units may provide a first tone of high pitch followed at a suitable interval, such as one-fourth of a second, by a tone of low pitch. When energized, each of the gong units may be arranged to produce its sequence of two tones only once. Alternatively, each gong unit may be arranged to repeat the sequence at intervals during the energization of the unit. Each of the units may be located at its proper floor adjacent its associated floor lantern.

The operation of the gong units associated with the elevator car A now will be considered. As clearly described in the aforesaid Santini et al. patent, as the ele vator car A stops at each intermediate or basement floor or as the elevator car A is selected by the dispatcher as the next car to leave a terminal floor, the appropriate floor lantern is illuminated to indicate the direction in which the elevator car will leave the floor at which it is stopped. At the same time, the proper gong unit is energized to produce an audible signal indicating the direction of departure of the elevator car.

Let it be assumed that the elevator car A is traveling up towards the fifth floor and that it has a call requiring it to stop at the fifth floor. Under such circumstances, the make contacts W11 of the up-direction relay are closed. As the elevator car nears the fifth floor, the brush uc engages the contact segment to prepare the floor lantern SUL and the gong unit SUG for subsequent energization. As the elevator car stops at the fifth floor, the break contacts M7 close to complete the following circuit:

L1, M7, W11, uc, n5, SUL and 5UG in parallel, L2

The floor lantern SUL now is energized to indicate that the elevator car will leave the fifth floor in the up direction. In addition, the gong unit SUG is energized to sound a first tone of low pitch followed at a brief interval, such as one-fourth second, by a tone of high pitch to indicate audibly that the elevator car will leave the fifth floor in the up direction.

Let it be assumed next that the elevator car A is leaving the sixth floor in the down direction and that it is to stop at the fifth floor. Under such circumstances, the make contacts X7 of the down-direction relay X are closed. As the elevator car nears the fifth floor, the brush pc engages the contact segment p5. As the elevarelay BMT starts a timing-out operation.

tor car stops at the fifth floor, the break contacts M7 close to complete the following circuit:

L1, Mi', X7, pc, p5, 5DL and SDG in parallel, L2

The floor lantern SDL now is illuminated to indicate visually that the elevator car will leave the fifth floor in the down direction. In addition, the down-direction gong unit is energized to produce a first tone of high pitch followed at a suitable interval, such as one-fourth of a second, by a tone of low pitch to indicate audibly that the elevator car will leave in the down direction. Thus, at each floor, a prospective passenger is alerted audibly to the fact that an elevator car stopping at the floor will leave the floor in a certain direction. In addition, the prospective passenger has a visual signal indicating the direction of departure of the car.

As shown in the aforesaid Santini et al. patent, the break contacts M7 close to operate a floor lantern as the elevator car completes a stopping operation at an intermediate floor. If an earlier operation of a floor lantern and its associated gong unit is desired, the manually-operated switch TASl may be closed to connect break contacts V2 of the speed relay V across the break contacts M7.

While the elevator car A is running between floors, the break contacts M7 and V2 are open. If the elevator car A is to stop atan intermediate floor, the speed relay V is deenergized and the break contacts V2 of the speed relay close when the elevator car reaches its slowdown distance from the floor. This operation of the speed relay is set forth in the aforesaid Santini et al. patent. Consequently, the closure of the break contacts V2 operates the floor lantern and the gong unit for the intermediate floor at which the elevator car is to stop appreciably before completion of the stopping operation.

Circuits similar to those employed for operating the floor lanterns and gong units associated with the elevator car A may be employed for each of the elevator cars in the bank. However, different circuits are illustrated for the elevator car B, and these new will be described.

It will be assumed that the manually-operated switches BTASZ and LBS are closed and that the manuallyoperated switches BTAS3 and BTASI are open. Under such circumstances when the elevator car B is running between floors, the gong timing relay BMT is energized through the make contacts BM13. As the elevator car B stops at a floor, the make contacts BMI3 open and the This relay may have a time delay in dropout determined by an adjustable resistor connected thereacross which may be of the order of one-fourth of a second.

The floor lanterns BbUL, BIUL, to BSUL and BIDL to B6DL, each has a terminal connected selectively to the bus L1 in the manner discussed in the aforesaid Santini ct alppatent. The remaining terminals of the two up and down floor lanterns for each floor are connected together and are also connected through a low pitch gong to a conductor LB1 and through a high pitch gong to a conductor LE2. For example for the fifth floor, the righthand terminals of the lanterns BSUL and BSDL are connected together. In addition, these terminals are connected through the low pitch gong BSGa to the conductor LBl and through the high pitch gong BSG-b to the conductor LB2. In a similar manner, the lanterns BZUL and B2DL are connected through the gongs B2Ga and E261), respectively, to the conductors LB]; and LE2. The lanterns BlUL and BIDL are connected through the gongs BlGa and BlGb, respectively, to the conductors LBI and LB2. Similar connections for the lanterns are employed for each of the intermediate floors.

The single lantern B6DL for the upper terminal floor has its right-hand terminal connected through low and high pitch gongs 1366a and B6Gb, respectively, to the conductors LB1 and LB2. Also, the right-hand terminal of the single lantern BbUL for the basement floor is connected through low pitch and high pitch gongs BbGa and BbGb, respectively, to the buses LE1 and LE2.

The conductors LB1 and LB2 are connected successively to the bus L2 in an order dependent on the direction in which the elevator car B is to leave a floor at which it is stopping. Thus, if the elevator car B is to leave in the up direction, the conductor LBl is connected to the bus L2 in advance of the connection of the conductor LB2 in order to energize a low pitch gong in advance of a high pitch gong for the desired floor. Conversely, if the elevator car is to leave a floor at which it is stopping in the down direction, the conductor LE2 is conected to the bus L2 in advance of the conductor LBl to energize the high pitch gong in advance of the low pitch gong for the floor at which the elevator car is to stop.

The conductor LB1 may be connected to the bus L2 through either of two circuits. One of the circuits includes the break contacts B78U7, the make contacts BWIFs, the make contacts BMTI, the break contacts BM14 and the switch LBS in series. The second circuit includes the make contacts B78U4 and BX14 in parallel, the break contacts BMT2 and the switch LBS. In a similar manner, the conductor LB2 may be connected to the bus L2 through a circuit including the break contacts BTBU IB, the make contacts BW14, the break contacts BMT2 and the switch LBS. A second circuit is provided through the make contacts B78U5 and BX13 in parallel, the make contacts BMTl, the break contacts BM14 and the switch LBS.

The operation of 2 gongs associated with the elevator car B now will be considered. It will be assumed first that the elevator car B is proceeding upwardly and that it is to stop at the fifth floor. Under such circumstances, the make contacts BWll of the lip-direction relay are closed, whereas the break contacts BM7 of the running relay are open. In addition, the make contacts BM13 are closed and the gong timing relay BMT consequently is energized and picked up. Therefore, the make contacts BMTl are closed, whereas the break contacts BMT2 are open. In addition, the break contacts BM14 are open, whereas the make contacts BW13 and BW14 are closed.

The elevator car B now stops at the fifth fioor in the manner discussed in the aforesaid Santini et al. patent. During the stopping operation, the brush Buc is in engagement with the contact segment BuS. As the elevator car completes its stopping operation, the break contacts BM7 and BM14 close to complete the following circuit:

L1, BM7, BWll, Buc, B115, BSUL, BSGa, LE1,

B78U7, BW13, BMTl, BM14, LBS, L2

Consequently, the door lantern BSUL now is energized to indicate that the elevator car B will leave the fifth floor in the up direction. In addition, the gong BSGa is energized to produce a tone having a low pitch.

At the same time, the make contacts BM13 open to deenergize the gong timing relay BMT, and this relay starts to time out. At the end of a suitable time, such as onefourth second, the relay BMT drops out to open its make contacts BMTI which deenergizes the energizing circuit for the gong B5Ga. At the same time, the break contacts BMT2 close to complete the following circuit:

L1, BM7, BWll, BZIL, BuS, BSUL, BSGb,

LE2, B78U6, BW14, BMT2, LBS, L2

Consequently, the lantern BSULI is promptly reenergized and the high pitch gong BSGb is energized to produce a tone having a high pitch. The low pitch tone followed in one-fourth second by a high pitch tone indicates by its ascending pitch that the elevator car B will leave the fifth fioor in the up direction. As the elevator car leaves the floor, the contacts BM7 open to deenergize the floor lantern BSUL and the gong BSGb. In addition, the make contacts BM13 close to reenergize and pick up the gong timing relays BMT, and the latter opens its break contacts BMTZ and closes its make contacts BMTI to complete the resettin operation.

It will be assumed next that the elevator car B is leaving the sixth floor and that it is to stop at the fifth floor. Under such circumstances, the make contacts BM13 are closed and the gong timing relay BMT is energized and picked up. The make contacts BMTI are closed and the break contacts BMTZ are open. Inasmuch as the elevator car is set for down travel, the make contacts BX'7, BX13 and BX14 of the down-direction relay are closed. Also, break contacts BM7 and BM14 are open.

As the elevator car approaches the fifth floor, it stops by the sequence discussed in the aforesaid Santini et al. patent. As the car completes its stopping operation, the break contacts BM7 and BM14 close to complete the following circuit:

L1, BM7, BX7, Bpc, BpS, BSDL,

BSGb, BX13, BMTI, BM14, LBS, L2

Consequently, the floor lantern BSDL now is illuminated to indicate visually that the elevator car B will leave the fifth floor in the down direction. In addition, the high pitch gong BSGb is energized to produce a high pitch tone.

At the same time, the make contacts BM13 open to start a timing-out operation of the gong timing relay BMT. At the end of a suitable time interval, such as one-fourth of a second, the relay BMT drops out, opening its make contacts BMTI. This deenergizes the floor lantern BSDL and the gong B5Gb. At the same time, the break contacts BM2 close to complete the following circuit:

Li, BM7, 13x7, Bpc, B s, BSDL,

BSGa, LE1, BX14, BMTZ, LBS, L2

Consequently, the floor lantern BSDL is promptly reenergized and the gong BSGa is energized to produce a low pitch tone. The high pitch tone followed in onefourth second by the low pitch tone indicates by its descending pitch that the elevator car B will leave the fifth floor in the down direction. As the elevator car starts from the fifth floor, the break contacts BM7 open to deenergize the floor lantern and the associated gong. The make contacts BMiS close to reenergize the gong timing relay BMT, and the break contacts BM14 open. The reenergized relay BMT closes its make cont-act BMTl and opens its break contacts BMTZ to complete the resetting operation.

Let it be assumed next that the elevator car B is travel ing up and is to reverse at its highest call which is assumed to be at the fifth floor. Under these circumstances, the make contacts 78U5 of the high-call relay are closed, whereas the break contacts B78U6 and B73U7 are open. The conditions of the remaining contacts will be understood from the preceding discussion of the stopping of the elevator car B at the fifth floor.

As the elevator car B stops at the fifth floor, the drop out of the running relay is accompanied by a dropout of the up-direction relay and pickup of the down-direction relay in the manner described in the aforesaid Santini et al. patent. Consequently, the make contacts BW13, BW14 and BWll all open, whereas the make contacts BXM, BX13 and BX7 all close.

As the car stops, the closure of the break contacts BM7 and BM14 of the running relay now completes the following circuit: 7

L1, BM7, BX7, Bpc, Bp5, BSDL, BSGb,

LE2, 7sU5, BMTi, BM14, LBS, L2

Consequently, the down lantern BSDL is illuminated to indicate that the elevator car will leave the fifth floor in the down direction. In addition, the energized high pitch gong BSGb produces a tone of high pitch. i

T .dIQ WF at th un ie relay a s ult d in o ening of the make contacts BM13 to deenergize the gong timing relay BMT. At the end of its time delay of one fourth second, this relay drops out to open its make contacts BMTl. This deenergizes the lantern BSDL and the gong B5Gb. In addition, the break contacts BMTZ close to complete the following circuit:

Consequently, the down lantern is properly rcenergized, and the low pitch gong BSGa produces a tone. The high pitch tone followed in one-fourth second by the low pitch tone indicates that the elevator car B will leave the fifth floor in the down direction.

With the operation thus far described, a lantern is illuminated and the gongs are sounded substantially as the elevator car comes to a stop. If earlier operation of the lanterns and gongs is desired, the switch BTAS2 may be opened and the switches BTASl and BTAS3 may be closed. With the switches so operated, let it be assumed that the elevator car B is traveling up and that it is to stop at the fifth floor before proceeding to the sixth floor. As the elevator car B reaches its slowdown distance from the fifth floor, the speed relay drops out to close its break contacts BVZ and 3V4. This completes the following circuit:

L1, BVZ, BTASl, BWl'l, Buc,

BuS, BSUL BSGa LE1, B78U7,

BW13, BMTI, BTAS3, BV4, LBS, L2

Consequently, the up-fioor lanternSBUL and the gong BSGa are energized substantially before the elevator car B completes its stopping operation.

At the same time, the make contacts BV3 open to deenergize the gong timing relay BMT which now starts to time out. At the end of one-fourth of a second, the relay BMT drops out to discontinue the energization of the gong BSGa and to energize the gong 35Gb in the manner previously discussed. Consequently, the efiect of the contacts BVZ, BV3 and BV4 is to give the visual and the audible signals to prospective passengers at a floor substantially before the elevator car arrives at the floor. if desired, the floor lantern and gong control for each of the elevator cars may be similar to that illustrated for the elevator car B.

Although the invention has been described with reference to certain specific embodiments thereof, numerous modifications falling within the spirit and scope of the invention are possible.

I claim as my invention:

1. In an elevator system, a structure having a plurality of floors, an elevator car, means mounting the elevator car for movement relative to the structure in up and down directions to serve the floors, control means operable for stopping the elevator car at selected floors and for starting the elevator car from each floor at which the car stops, and audible signal means for audibly indicating at a floor the direction in which the elevator car will leave the floor, said audible signal means comprising sound generating mechanism operable for generating a first gong sound and a second gong sound succeeding said first sound, the complete second sound being higher in pitch than the complete first sound generated by the generating mechanism and operating means responsive to each stopping operation of the elevator car at one of the floors from which the elevator car is to start in the up direction for operating the sound generating mechanism to produce successively said first and second sounds, said operating means being ineffective for operating the sound generating means to produce successively said first and second sounds when the elevator car is to start in the down direction, said sound generating mechanism comprising a first gong unit for producing said first sound and a second gong unit for producing said second sound.

2. In an elevator system, a structure having a plurality of floors, an elevator car, means mounting the elevator car for movement relative to the structure in up and down directions to serve the floors, control means operable for stopping the elevator car at selected floors and for starting the elevator car from each floor at which the car stops, and audible signal means for audibly indicating at a floor the direction in which the elevator car will leave the floor, said audible signal means comprising sound generating mechanism operable for generating a first gong sound and a second gong sound succeeding said first sound, the complete second sound being lower in pitch than the complete first sound generated by the generating mechanism and operating means responsive to each stopping operation of the elevator car at one of the floors from which the elevator car is to start in the down direction for operating the sound generating mechanism to produce said successive first and second sounds, said operating means being ineffective for operating the sound generating means to produce successively said first and second sounds when the elevator car is to start in the up direction, said sound generating mechanism comprising a first gong unit for producing said first sound and a second gong unit for producing said second sound.

3. In an elevator system, a structure having a plurality of floors, an elevator car, means mounting the elevator car for movement relative to the structure in up and down directions to serve the floors, direction means for determining the direction in which the elevator car will leave a floor, audible signal means comprising gong sound generating mechanism at each of said fioors having a first operating condition for producing a first gong sound followed by a second gong sound, the complete second sound being higher in pitch than the complete first sound produced by said generating mechanism to signal up travel of the elevator car and a second operating condition for producing a first gong sound followed by a second gong sound, the complete second sound being lower in pitch than the complete first sound produced by said generating mechanism for the second operating condition to signal down travel of the elevator car, and means responsive to said direction means and to the position of the elevator car for selecting the operating condition of the sound generating mechanism corresponding to the direction of travel of the elevator car and located at a floor at which the elevator car is setto stop.

4. In an elevator system, a structure having a plurality of floors, an elevator car, means mounting the elevator car for movement relative to the structure in up and down directions to serve the floors, control means operable for stopping the elevator car at selected floors and for starting the elevator car from each floor at which thecar stops, and audible signal means for audibly indicating at a floor the direction in which the elevator car will leave the floor, said audible signal means comprising sound generating mechanism operable for generating an inarticulate sound free of language meaning and having first and second components which occur in succession, said first component being clearly identifiable as of lower pitch and said second component being clearly identifiable as of higher pitch, and operating means responsive to each stopping operation of the elevator car at one of the floors from which the elevator car is set to start in the up direction for operating the sound generating mechanism to produce said sound with said first component earliest in said succession and said second component latest in said succession, said operating means being ineffective for operating the sound generating means to produce said sound with said first component earliest and said second component latest in said succession when the elevator car is set to start in the down direction.

5. In an elevator system, a structure having a plurality of floors, an elevator car, means mounting the elevator car for movement relative to the structure .in up and down directions to serve the floors, control means operable for stopping the elevator car at selected floors and for starting the elevator car from each floor at which the car stops, and audible signal means for audibly indicating at a floor the direction in which the elevator car will leave the floor, said audible signal means comprising sound generating mechanism operable for generating an inarticulate sound free of language meaning and having first and second components which occur in a succession, said first component being clearly identifiable as of lower pitch and said second component being clearly identifiable as of higher pitch, and operating means responsive to said stopping operation of the elevator car at one of the floors from which the elevator car is set to start in the down direction for operating the sound generating mechanism to produce said sound with said second component earliest in said succession and said first component latest in said succession, said operating means being inefiective for operating the sound generating means to produce said sound With said second component earliest in said succession and said first component latest in said succession when the elevator car is set to start in the up direction.

6. In an elevator system, a structure having a plurality of floors, an elevator car, means mounting the elevator car for movement relative to the structure in up and down directions to serve the floors, control means operable for stopping the elevator car at selected floors and for starting the elevator car from each floor at which the car stops, and audible signal means for audibly indicating at a floor the direction in which the elevator car will leave the floor, said audible signal means comprising sound generating mechanism operable for generating an inarticulate sound free of language meaning and having first and second components which occur in a succession, said first component being clearly identifiable as of lower pitch and said second component being clearly identifiable as of higher pitch, said sound generating mechanism having a first operation in which said first component occurs earliest in said succession and said second component latest in said succession and a second operation in which said second component occurs earliest in said succession and said first component occurs latest in said succession, and operating means responsive to each stopping operation of the elevator car at one of the floors from which the elevator car is to start in the up direction for operating the sound generating mechanism only with the first of said operations, said operating means being responsive to each stopping operation of the elevator car at one of the floors from which the elevator car is to start in the down direction for operating the sound generating mechanism only with the second of said operations.

7. In an elevator system, a structure having a plurality of floors, a plurality of elevator cars, means mounting the elevator cars for movement relative to the structure in up and down directions to serve the fioors, control means operable for each of the elevator cars at selected floors and for starting each of the elevator cars from each floor at which the car stops, and audible signal means for audibly indicating at a floor the direction in which one of the elevator cars will leave the floor, said audible signal means comprising sound generating mechanism operable for generating an inarticulate sound free of language meaning and having first and second components which occur in a succession, said first component being clearly identifiable as of lower pitch and said second component being clearly identifiable as of higher pitch, and having a first operation in which said first component occurs earliest in said succession and said second component occurs latest in said succession and a second operation in which said second component occurs earliest in said succession and first component occurs latest in said succession, an up visual signal and a down visual signal for each of said elevator cars at each of the floors, each of said visual signals being operable to indicate the direction of departure of the associated elevator car when such car is stopped at the associated floor, and operating means responsive to each stopping operation of one of the elevator cars at one of the floors from which the last-named elevator car is to start in the up direction for operating the sound generating mechanism in said first operation and for operating the associated up visual signal at such floor, said operating means being responsive to each stopping operation of one of the elevator cars at one of the floors from which the last-named elevator car is to start in a down direction for operating the sound generating means in said second operation and for operating the associated down visual signal.

8. In an elevator system, a structure having a plurality of floors, an elevator car, means mounting the elevator car for movement relative to the structure in up and down directions to serve the floors, direction means for determining the direction in which the elevator car will leave a floor, audible signal means comprising sound generating mechanism operable for generating an inarticulate sound free of language meaning and having first and second components which occur in a succession, said first component being clearly identifiable as of lower pitch and said second component being clearly identifiable as of higher pitch, selective means connected to said generating mechanism for producing said sound with said first component earlier in said succession and said second component latest in said succession to signal up travel of the elevator car and for producing said second component earliest in said succession and said first component latest in said succession to signal down travel of the elevator car, and means responsive to said direction means and connected to said selective means for causing said selective means to operate said sound generating mechanism corresponding to the direction of travel of the elevator car.

9. In an elevator system, a structure having a plurality of floors, an elevator car, means mounting the elevator car for movement relative to the structure in up and down directions to serve the floors, direction means for determining the direction in which the elevator car will leave a floor, audible signal means comprising sound generating mechanism at each of said floors operable for generating an inarticnlate sound free of language meaning and having first and second components which occur in a succession, said first component being clearly identifiable as of lower pitch and said second component being clearly identifiable as of higher pitch, said sound generating means having a first operating condition in which said first component occurs earliest in said succession and said second component occurs latest in said succession to signal up travel of the elevator car and a second operating condition in which .said second component occurs earliest in said succession and said first component occurs latest in said succession to signal down travel of the elevator car, and means responsive to said direction means and to the positionof the elevator car for selecting the operating condition of the sound generating mechanism 'corresponding to the direction of travel of the elevator car and located at a floor at which the elevator car is set to stop.

10. In an elevator system, a structure having a plurality of floors, a plurality of elevator cars, means mounting the elevator cars for movement relative to the structure in up and down directions to serve the floors, control means operable for stopping each of the elevator cars at selected floors and for starting each of the elevator cars from each floor at which the car stops, and audible signal means for audibly indicating at a floor the direction in which one of the elevator cars will leave the floor, said audible signal means comprising sound generating mechanism at each of said floors operable for generating an inarticulate sound free of language meaning and having first and second components which occur in a succession, said first component being clearly identifiable as of lower pitch and said second component being clearly identifiable as of higher pitch, said sound generating means having a first sound operation in which said first component is earliest in said succession and said second component is latest in saidsuccession, said sound generating means having a second sound operation in which said second component is earliest in said succession and said first component is latest in said succession, an up visual signal and a down visual signal for each of said elevator cars at each of the floors, each of said visual signals being operable to indicate the direction of departure of the associated elevator car when such car is stopped at the associated floor, and operating means responsive to each stopping operation of one of the elevator cars at one of the floors from which the last-named elevator car is to start in the up direction for operating the sound generating mechanism for the last-named floor with the first of said sound operations and for operating the associated up visual signal at such floor, said operating means being responsive to each stopping operation of one of the elevator cars at one of the floors from which the last-named elevator car is to start in the down direction for operating the sound generating mechanism *for the last-named fioor with the second of said sound operations and for operating the associated down visual signal.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

